Day #19 "Upside Down"

In the Psalms, we see a lot about protection from enemies, deliverance from suffering and injustice, and cries of help from the persecuted.

I have recently learnt a mind-blowing concept that has radically changed my perspective of wealth, suffering and justice in the world. It was not a nice thing to accept, but get this; the rich are servants of the poor. The torturers will be under the feet of the tortured. The lowly servants and slaves on this earth will be rulers. It’s in reverse. The wealthy, famous, “got it all” people, will one day be groveling under the mercy of the weak. The Bible says so.

"For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest" [Luke 9:48]

 "Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?” [James 2:5-7]

...Why do we trying to hard to please the strong of the world when they are the ones who oppress and betray us?...

It was a paradigm shift for me; I couldn’t believe it! All this time, conformed to the world, I judged or sympathized with the ugly, the dirty, the weak, the poor, the disabled, but in God’s eyes, they are the most honored! “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7]

So our God is a fair God! His justice, though not seen right now, will one day come. The Psalmists knew that when they cried out for God’s justice, and waited in hope for His deliverance. Psalm 136 tells of God’s mercy that endures forever. He is a God of both Justice and Mercy. 

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” [Psalm 136:1]

In another version it uses LOVE instead of mercy, "God saw the trouble we were in. God’s Love never fails." [Psalm 136:23]

Psalm 121 has to be one of my favorite blessing of protection passages.

“I look to the hills!
    Where will I find help?
² It will come from the Lord,
    who created the heavens
    and the earth.

³ The Lord is your protector,
    and he won’t go to sleep
    or let you stumble.
⁴ The protector of Israel
doesn’t doze
    or ever get drowsy.

⁵ The Lord is your protector,
there at your right side
    to shade you from the sun.
⁶ You won’t be harmed
by the sun during the day
    or by the moon^[a] at night.

⁷ The Lord will protect you
    and keep you safe
    from all dangers.
⁸ The Lord will protect you
    now and always
    wherever you go.”